CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff

Winter Tyres

(46 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Neil
  • Latest reply from Edinburgh Cycle Training

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  1. Neil
    Member

    I'm currently using Schwalbe One (25c) and wondering whether I should get a different pair of tyres for winter. I've found the One's to be pretty robust, one or two punctures over the time I've had them but nothing out of the ordinary I think. My bike will take 28's but I think I'd like to stay with 25's because I prefer the handling (I've used both the 28 and 25c One's on this bike). Rims are H+Son Archetype.

    They will be used for both commuting and "training" :P

    I'm thinking about the Michelin Pro4 Endurance V2, in 25c

    Thoughts? Recommendations?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. Ed1
    Member

    Last week 2 spokes broke on my revolution country explorer so going to get the wheel re build with stronger spokes. This week I was riding my old bike, I forgot how good my explorer is, my old budget hybrid so unstable, uncomfortable and slow with awful gear changes.

    Today I put my winter tyres from last year on my hybrid. After 3 miles the tyre came off. So had to drag my bike home. Last year the tyre tube blew at 20 mph and the tyre got a bit bent although bent thought would still do if went slowly.

    Now I only have one worn out winter tyre and after cycling on my hybrid for the first time since got my country explorer It feels so awful in comparison. So going to get some winter tyres for my explorer when get wheel fixed, is there any deals out at the moment. I see there is still some deals on snow studs, what I bought last year, but my explorer has 32 ish tyres so they wont fit. Any deals in tyre size 30 or 32 studs any one has noticed?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  3. wingpig
    Member

    There were a few of us bought some Schwalbe Winter in 30mm a few years ago from BikeDiscount.de. Planet X only have weird sizes in cheap studs.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  4. gembo
    Member

    @smashfacethecat, there is a very long discussion somewhere else on here about winter tyres or more robust tyres . Gatorskins usually have a number of fans. They don't puncture readily and are not horrendously expensive. They are still road racing tyres. They may be a little sluggish for the elite? But they are not scwalbe marathon plus (fewer punctures but very adherent to the road). Wingpig used to be big fan of armadillos.. Again these are for commute.

    Ed1 you can get schwalbe winter tyres with two rows of studs or four rows of studs.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  5. HankChief
    Member

    I love my studs (Schwalbe Winters), however they didn't stop me falling over on the way to the garage this morning. Ouch. :-(

    Posted 8 years ago #
  6. Stickman
    Member

    I've still got a completely unused set of Winters (26 X 1.75) for sale if anyone wants them: £15

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. mercury1and2
    Member

    HI Thinking of taking my spec dolce -(wheels 700x25) to red moss- by balerno. I would like to use the water of leith walkway so my question is what tyres to use- is it possible really- weather permitting on a basic road bike with good tyres? and if so what tyres if conditions are fairly dry would people think suitable ? Santa is thinking about helping out, but I have asked no to punctures on my wish list and as he is busy - he said that I should be more specific and he would see what he has got in stock. So please help many thanks in advance.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @mercury1and2

    I think that would count as 'possible, but not much fun' in normal winter conditions. Bits of the WoL path are just mud if it's been wet. Regular commuters often consider switching to the road depending on recent rainfall.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    @mercury1and2

    If you don't want the main road through Currie, I would suggest Woodhall Rd right to the end then short gravel path linking up to Blinkbonny Rd? I've done that on road bike tyres in a variety of conditions.

    Or Long Dalmahoy Rd -> Ravelrig (which is steep), but then if you're heading to Red Moss you'll be encountering steep on the way there anyway

    Posted 7 years ago #
  10. wingpig
    Member

    @mercury1and2 It's worth doing once, just to prove the possibility. I've probably been along it far less frequently since switching up to first 25mm then 28mm from 23mm (and never had time chance to try when I briefly possessed something with 35mm tyres) but it's the thought of having to scrape/skoosh re-solidified mud-and-whindust-paste out of my components rather than anything to do with tyres or grip which keeps me away these days, unless I remember to pop along it when it's not rained for at least a week in the summer.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. mercury1and2
    Member

    thanks all - used to do the trip on mtb but would like to try- we have been lucky with weather but I bet Jan - march 2017 will be not so good.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. gembo
    Member

    @mercury1and2, WoL path not that muddy at the moment. Where are you starting from?

    For instance, there is a route from swans ton round to the top road above Currie and then round harperrig to thriepmuir and then you are at red moss. Boardwalk, pond and all.

    The lymphoy road is pretty sludgey from the east until the lymphoy house which is currently for sale.

    Blinkbonny links to lymphoy or if you go up kirkbrae to the top road I mention above,

    However, if you favour the WoL path it can be done on say Gatorskin 25s. But not when frozen.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. Dave
    Member

    You could just ride it on any tyre I reckon, if you had to. The problem is not so much that you need knobbly tyres for traction, it's just that crud gets all over everything on you and your bike, and that's going to be the same whatever the tyre. You could go faster on a wider tyre but maybe that's not too important.

    Even though I've got full SKS mudguards and an extra mudflap on the front, I don't like the WoL path. The "tan line" of crud on my legs, and coating on my shoes and the drivetrain etc is dire.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. mercury1and2
    Member

    hi ya- did the route mostly today with my mtb semi slicks- it was ok in parts- stopped at the fish and chip shop then when down and then back up ravelrig rd to check my Hr.Bike and me spatterdashed with mud.started from Scotland st so I used the WOL apart from diversions. I was late so didn't want to risk the dark.Requires more thinking I think.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. Ed1
    Member

    On my way back from callander today I got a flat in my winter tyres. I was hoping it would be penetration of foreign object but it was a stud coming through. I have a spare 30 700 winter with 200 miles on it. However would rather fix my 35 700. Every winter tyre put on the back ends up with studs coming through when get around 800 to 1000 miles. Tyre is still good, on line I see lots of videos on how to fit new studs or fit tyres but nothing on how to make them stronger. Any one know of a fix to studs coming through?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. wingpig
    Member

    Anti-puncture tape between tube and tyre? On my first set of studded tyres the holes where the studs were ripped out would have been quite vulnerable without extra tape. Ideally, I will one day get round to chopping up a few old Armadilloes and removing the rubber tread and using their substrates as anti-puncture tape.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. SRD
    Moderator

    Is there anywhere in town where I could get a 700cc marathon winter tomorrow?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. LaidBack
    Member

    Only have 20" one or two. Cycle Service may have 700s but think they're closed till new year.
    Weather will warm up by weekend they say.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Biketrax('s website) shows the Continental Nordic Spike, in both 120-spike and 240-spike versions, in 42-622 size. Hefty price tag for both of them unfortunately. Don't be fooled by the photos; the 120-spike version has the outer spikes only.

    Would your bike accommodate a 42mm tyre? The 700c Marathon Winter is 35mm.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. SRD
    Moderator

    Thanks to a kind CCE-emergency-tyre-fairy we have a loaner.

    Now we just have to put them on. Hoping 700cc is easier than the 20".

    Wish Santa had remembered to give MrSrd the promised big bag o zipties in his stocking instead of the bike shaped pasta.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. Ed1
    Member

    That is the decathlon anti puncture tape fitted quite a mission to fit glad tyre was not new. That tape is so strong don't know how it could puncture from a stud again. I did not take the stud coming through out figure it will never wear through the tape.

    If cant get a new tyre and need one immediately.
    I have a spare spare winter tyre, 30, 700 winter tyre not a marathon an active half the spikes, has over 1000 miles on it but never penetrated used it on the front wheel last winter. Tread and carcass still in good shape , spikes better than my 200 mile spare. I switched to 35, 700 this year as found the 30, 700s would tram line badly.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. unhurt
    Member

    @SRD you mean not everyone already has a permanent supply of cable ties kicking around at the bottom of every bike bits storage box in the house? I even have some in my desk drawer at work (because someone left green ones in the random stationery store next door & they looked like they needed a careful owner. Ahem).

    Posted 6 years ago #
  23. SRD
    Moderator

    @Unhurt - first on my pop briefing was going to be 'buy zip ties' because you will use more than you ever though possible...

    We used the last of my stash on our last demo.

    and the final emergency ones when fitting the 20" marathon winters.

    @ed1 is your puncturing tyre a marathon winter? or just a winter? I find the marathon winters much less prone to stud coming through. But I only use them on front wheel. Back wheel might be too much even for them.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  24. Ed1
    Member

    Yes my winter tyre is just active not a marathon. I would have spent £ 10 more on a marathon if new was tougher will try that next year or this year depending how the fix holds up.

    When I fitted the anti puncture tape last night it did not say I need to sand the edge. Today watching videos on line people said need to sand edge were it over laps. I bought sand paper today but held up for the 10 miles I cycled today. Does everyone sand the edge?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  25. unhurt
    Member

    If you were too lazy to put winter tyres on both wheels, which one would you pick? Asking for a friend...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  26. HankChief
    Member

    Front. Stability over traction

    Posted 6 years ago #
  27. unhurt
    Member

    Cheers. And that is also less faff!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  28. gembo
    Member

    I went with front, bought cheap double walled wheel and put tyre on it. For ease of swapping. Used it two weeks in total over five years.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  29. Ed1
    Member

    I find with rear tyre studs come through. I have not found front worse than a normal tyre for punctures. Since fitted the tyre tape no puncture although imagine tyre tape may puncture tyre eventually will sand it smooth after next puncture

    Posted 6 years ago #
  30. Ed1
    Member

    Flat tyre on the way home tonight. 2 weeks ago a stud came through so I fitted anti puncture tape. It worked stopped the stud popping tyre. However it wore the inner tube down was loads of tiny bits of inner tube inside the tyre. I may try using gel as the tyre tape already makes tyre ride harsh and a bit harder. Hoping with gel and the tape liner will get a month before erosion causes flat. May also consider a front pannier to spread the weight better.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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